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The Straw Kappa
Unknown Prefecture |
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Long ago, at a time of great construction, there was a shortage of workmen available. Because of this, straw dummies with poles stuffed through them to simulate arms were created to help with the work [though the source for this story does not explain how these dummies actually helped].
After the construction work was completed the straw dummies were discarded into a nearby river, where, it is said, they became kappa. But, because of these kappa's unusual origins, their arms can still be pulled away from their bodies as easily as the poles could have been pulled from the original straw dummies.
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Sources:Kappa, Tengu, Oni Zorozoro HYAKKA (Kappa, Tengu, Oni Encyclopedia)1985 Gakken, pg. 21
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